Augustus ha



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1. A. HAHL & O. MERGENTHALER.

PNEUMATIC CLOCK. No. 314,014. Patented Mar. 17,1885.

2 SheetsSl1eet 3. A. HAHL & 0. MERGENTHALER.

PNEUMATIC GLOGKH v No. 314,014. Patented Mar. 17, 1885..

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

AUGUSTUS HAIIL AND OTTMAR MERGENTHALER, OF BALTIMORE, MD.

PNEUMATIC CLOCK.

.JPEQLZiCATZON forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,014, dated March 1'7, 1885.

Application filed March 2'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat we, AUGUSTUS HAHL and OTTMAR D'IERGENTI-IALER, of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Pneumatic Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to that system of time-keepers wherein a master-clock or pumping mechanism acts to force currents or impulses of air at regular intervals through tubes or conductors to operate the mechanism of secondary clocks, there being ordinarily a number of the secondary clocks under the control of each master clock.

The invention relates especially to various improvements in the construction of the masterclock as heretofore constructed, whereby it is caused to operate with a smaller consumption of power and with a more steady and easy motion. In the clocks as heretofore constructed a train of gearing through intermediate devices operated the air-pump, which consisted of a bell-shaped vessel dipping at its mouth into glycerine or equivalent fluid. It is required in practice to raise and lower this bell or pump at stated intervals to render its movements gradual and easy, and to secure the bell during the intermediate pcriods of time in a fixed position. In orderto control or retard the motion of the mechanism during the time that the pump-cylinder is being moved, it has hitherto been customary to employ retarding-fans driven by intermediate gearing from the main train. In place ofthisfly-fan we now make use ofa fluid-pump, or, in other words, ofa piston the movement of which is controlled by the gradual escape of the fluid from behind it. This device, while compelling a gradual motion of the mechanism during the time that the pump is being moved, avoids the expenditure of power which was required in operating the fly, and also enables us to dispense with the extra gearing and the numerous other pieces During the downward movement of the pulimping-cylinder the air, being gradually compressed, offers an increasing resistance to the mechanism by which it is moved. In order, therefore, to assist the operating-gear and apply to the pump an increased force proportioned to the increasing resistance of the air, we make use of a shaft (No model.)

and weight so arranged that as the pump-cylinder descends the weight is varied in position so that it affords a steadily-increasing assistance to the pumpbpcrating mechanism.

The power for operating the pump is applied through the intermediate mechanism directly thereto; but in order to secure accurate time-keeping the power for operating the escapement oi" the pendulum is applied, as in chronometers, through an intermediate spring, commonly known asthe powermaintaining spring, which is wound at frequent intervals. and which is used mainly for the purpose of equalizing the power transmitted to the escapement and of keeping the pendulum in motion during the time that the clock is being wound.

Another feature of our invention relates to the device by which the main train is caused to wind this intermediate spring at stated intervals, and to the device whereby the escape ment is caused to effect the action of the pump at the regular intervals required.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through our improved clock. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a crosssection on the line or a. Figs. 4 and 5 are views illustrating the action of the detent mechanism by means of which the action ol'the train upon the air-pump is caused at regular intervals. Fig. (3 illustratcs the manner in which motion is communicated to the escapement.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame-work ol'the clock, which may be of any ordinary construction. At one end of this frame there is located, as usual, the air-pump B, consisting of a vertical reciprocating bell a, the mouth of which is scaled by immersion in a body of glycerine or similar equivalent tiuid, b, contained within a cup or body, 0, this cup being provided with the central air discharging pipe, d, which ascends through and above the fluid into the bell or piston a, so that when the latter is depressed the contained air is forced outward through the pipe (I. The purpose of the entire mechanism of the clock is to effect the elevation and depres sion of the pump hell or piston to at regular intervals. The bell is connected by means of a rod, 0, to one end of a horizontal frame, I),

this frame being carried at its middle by the cross-shaftf, mounted in the main frame. The vibration of this frame D to secure the elevation or depression of the pump-bell is effected by means of a cam-wheel, E, having the serpentine cam-groove formed therein to receive a roller or stud, g, on one side of the vibratory arm, the form of the groove being such that at each rotation of the cam-wheel the pump-bell receives four depressions and a corresponding number of elevations.

Motion is communicated to the cam-wheel E by means of a pinion, F, applied to its shaft and arranged to engage with a gear-wheel, G, which latter is provided with or mounted on the shaft of a pinion, H, which in turn receives motion from a gear-wheel, I, mounted on the shaft of the wi11ding-drum J. This drum, which will be provided with a cord and weight to propel it, will be connected through the medium of apall and ratchet, as usual, in the winding mechanism of clocks. These features constitute no partof our invention.

It will be perceived that under the above arrangement the weight will transmit motion through intermediate gearing to the camwheel, and that the cam-wheel in turn vibrating the frame D will cause the reciprocating action of the pump. This would be a continuous one were no means provided to control it. As, however, it is required that the pump shall act at stated intervals only, we provide an escapement whereby the drivingtrain is locked and prevented from moving except at stated periods, as will be hereinafter explained. As the pump hell or piston is depressed the air therein acquiring an increased pressure offers an increased resistance, which would tend to check the motion of the bell and driving-gear, and thus occasion the mechanism to run unsteadily. For the purpose, therefore, of assisting the mechanism in depressing the bell, we provide the vibrating frame D with a weighted arm, K, the inner end of which bears beneath a pulley or equivalent bearing. L, attached to the main frame in the manner clearly represented in Fig. 1. As the end of the frame D rises with the bell it elevates the fulcrum of the lever K, the inner end of which, being acted upon by the stationary roller L, is depressed, so that the lever is caused to assume an elevated position, as indicated in Fig. 1, whereby it is caused to offer a decreasing or diminishing resistance to the ascent of the frame D. hen, however, the frame is moved downward, the lever K falls outward in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, this weight being thrown to an increased distance from the fulcrum of the vibratory frame, and its fulcrum being at the same time brought nearer to the bearing L, whereby the weight is caused to offer a rapidly-increasing force to urge the frame and pumpingbell downward. \Ve do not claim merely a weight which falls outward toward the end of the vibrating-frame to assist in depressing the same, our invention consisting in combining this lever with a bearing or fulcrum which is movable so as to shorten the leverage and thereby give the weight an increased effect in the frame.

It will be observed that the roller L is mounted in the lower end of a threaded stand ard, h, which is mounted in a horizontal slot, i, in the main frame and secured by nuts 7r, wherebythe adjustment of the roller is permitted both vertically and horizontally to change or modify the action of the weighted lever as may be required. The lever may be thus adjusted to give more or less assistance to the bell, and thus adapt the pump to the varyingresistances which may be encountered in the air-conducting pipe, either on account of the distance to which the air requires to be forced or the number of secondary clocks which may be connected therewith.

Owing to the variable resistance which the air offers to the action of the pump-bell it is necessary to provide means for checking or controlling the motion of the pump mechanism during its movements. ln place of the fly-fan hitherto employed, we connect with the rear end of the vibratory pumping-frame D a piston, M, working within a vertical cylinder, N, the lower end of which is closed and pro vided with a supplyof glycerine or equivalent fluid. The piston is made of slightly less diameter than the bore of the cylinder to permit the gradual escape of the glycerine past its edge, or it fitted closely to the cylinder it may be provided with one or more perforations for the same purpose. Duringthe dcscent of the bell and the time that it remains down the glycerine passes below the piston, and then as the bell ascends the glycerine escaping slowly and offering a resistance to its ascent thereby checks or rctards'the motion of the vibratory arm and the driving-train.

lVhile it is preferred to retain the arrangementot' pump and piston described, it is manifest that they may be constructed and an ranged in any other suitable manner under which the movement of the piston will be retarded by the admission or escape of a fluid through a small passage into or out of the space behind it.

The uniformity or steadiness ot' the motion secured on the part of the bell in its upward and downward movements is advantageous not only in the respects stated above, but also in that it prevents the glycerine from being thrown out of the vessels in the secondary clocks or into the air-pipe, as might perhaps occur were the piston permitted to move violently.

Having thus explained the pump and the mechanism by which it is drivcn,and by which the motion of the parts is rendered slow and uniform, we will now pass to the devices by which the driving-train is thrown into and out of action so as to permit the proper intervals of time to elapse between the upward and downward movements of the pumpingends of which are fashioned into beveled hooks, while their lower ends are extended beyond their pivots to form weights whereby the hooked ends are constantly urged forward into engagement. These hooks engage alternately with pins or teeth extending from the side of a wheel, Q, which is secured firmly on atransverse shaft, B. This shaftRhas mounted loosely upon one end a gear-wheel, S, connected to the shaft through the medium of a coiled spring, T, previously alluded to as the power maintaining spring, one end of which spring is attached to the wheel S,while the opposite end is attached to the shaft R. The vibration of the pumping-frame D causes the two hooks O and P to rise and fall alternately, so that they alternately engage with the pins Q, thereby revolving the shaft R and winding the spring T, which is kept constantly under tension, so that it tends constant-ly to turn the wheel S. This wheel S engages with and drives a pinion, U, on one end of a transverse shaft, V,the opposite end of which bears the escapement-wheel \V, aeting in connection with the ordinary palletlever, X,the shaft of which bears the usual vibrating arm, Y, acting with the pendulum. It will thus be seen that through the hooks O and P the springT is wound and motion communicated to the escapement.

It is to be noted asapeculiarity of our winding system that the winding action extends through the entire period of time consumed by the movement of the bell. This is an important feature of the system, for the reason that it permits the winding to be effected more gradually and easily than in the ordinary clocks of this class, wherein the construction is such that the winding must be done in about one-half of the time consumed by the movement of the bell. By employing double time to effect the same winding we secure a much smoother and more satisfactory action of the parts with less power.

Passing now to the connection between the eseapement and the detent mechanism of the main train, attention is called to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The vibrating frame has attached to its shaft or fulcrum arigid upright arm, A,whieh vibrates therewith, the upper end of which is widenedor extended in the direction of vibration. The upper end of this arm moves to and fro immediately beneath a transverse rock-shaft, p, and is provided with two pawls or dogs, q and 9', designed to engage with and bear endwise against said shaft alternately for the purpose of holding the arm temporarily against vibration, and thereby holding the driving-train and pump at rest. The pawl q is pivoted at one side of the arm A and lies beneath the shaft 17, while the pawl r is pivoted at the Opposite side of the arm and lies above the shaft 1). The free ends of the two dogs are provided with shoulders beveled on the rear sides, so that they will ride over and engage against the shaft p. lVhen the pumpframe D is vibrated to depress the pump bell or piston,the arm A is thrown to the position indicated in Fig. 5, whereupon the upper pawl or dog, 1', engages with the shaft and retains the arm in that position, preventing the pump for the time being from moving and holding the pump bell in its depressed position. \Vhen, however, the pumping-frame D is vibrated in the opposite direction to elevate the pump-bell, the arm A is thrown to the position indicated in Fig. 4, whereupon the lower dog, (1, engages upon the shaft 1), again looking the frame D in its second position, and

again checking the action of the driving-train and holding the pump-bell in its elevated po sition. It will thus be seen that by the engagement of the two dogs alternately with the shaft 1) the pumpbell is alternately held down and held up. 7

In order to permit the action of the pump and train at proper intervals, it is necessary to disengage the dogs (1 and r from the shaft 11 alternately at the proper times. This disengagement is effected by simply giving to the shaft a rocking or rolling motion sufficient to cause the dogs to ride therefrom. The manner in which this rolling motion is effected a the proper time we will now describe.

The rock-shaft p is provided at one end with an arm. 8, which being raised, as hereinafter described, is sustained by means of a pawl or stop-arm, t. This stoparm is acted upon at regular intervals by a pin, a, applied to the side of the escape-wheel, the pin serving to elevate the stop 2, and thereby release the arm .9, which, falling by gravity, rotates the shaft a sufficient distance to cause the dis engagement of either dog q or 1', which may be engaged thereon at the time. Fig. 4: illustrates in section the position of the parts when the dogq is in engagement with the shaft or arbor p, and Fig. 5 the position of the parts when the dog 0' is in engagement with said shaft. In either position of the parts the retation of the shaft will cause that pawl which may be at the time pressing upon the shaft to ride therefrom, the pawl being moved by the rolling action of the shaft against its end.

For the purpose of turning the shaft backward and elevating its arm 8 previous to the next disengagement of the dog, the shaft is provided with a second arm, w, acted upon by the wheel Q, before mentioned, this wheel being provided, as clearly shown in the drawings, with teeth or fingers to act upon and raise the arm.

The action is as follows: The parts being in the position represented in Fig.5, with the arm A thrown to the left and held by the dog 0', so as to maintain the pumping-bell in its lower position, the pin a of the escapementwheel elevates the lever 75, releasing the arm 8, which falls and turns the shaft 1) sufficiently to disengage the dog 1''. The disengagement of this dog releases the arm A, and thereby the driving-train, which immediately rotates the cam-wheel F, causing the same to operate the frame D and elevate the pumping-bell. At the instant that this elevation is completed the lower dog, g, which has been carried forward by the movement of the arm A engages in turn with the shaft 29, holding the pumping-bell in its elevated position. During the action of the mechanism to elevate the bell the hook P acts to turn the shaft R and wind the spring, as described, at the same time turning the wheel Q. and causing the latter, through the arm w, to restore the rock-shaft p and arm 8 to their original position, in which they are held by the arm or dog t falling again in front of the arm 8. The parts now occupy the position represented in Fig. 4, and in this position they remain until the pin upon the escapement-wheel again trips the stop it, whereupon the dog q is disengaged from the shaft 2) and the arm A permitted to move to the left, thereby permitting the driving-train to operate the frame D and depress the bell, the parts being immediately locked by the engagement of the dog 0', as before. During this action the hook 1? effects the winding of the spring. It will thus be seen that through the action of the escapement upon the shaft 1) the dogs (1 and r are alternately re leased and the arm A thereby controlled in its movements in such manner as to permit the alternate elevation and depression of the pumping-bell and hold the same immovably in position during the uniform intervals of time, which are ordinarily of sixty seconds each.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In a pneumatic clock, the combination of the pump bell or piston, the driving-train, and the grooved cam-wheel, constructed sub stantially as described, to impart a positive motion to the pump, as described.

2. In a pneumatic clock, the combination, substantially as hcreinbefore described and shown, of the pumping bell or piston, the driving-train, the intermediate cam connected to the bell, the latch or detent, an intermittingly-acting locking mechanism to hold the driving-train, and a time mechanism acting at regular intervals to release the detent, whereby the driving-train is caused to actuate the pump at suitable intervals and hold the same at rest during the intermediate periods of time.

3. In a pneumatic clock, the combination,

, with the pump hell or piston, of the drivingtrain and the controlling pump or piston whereby the speed of the main piston is controlled.

4. In a pneumatic clock, the combination of a pumping bell or piston, a driving-train acting substantially as described to operate said piston, the secondary piston and cylinder M N, to control the speed of the pump ing-piston, a detent to lock the driving-train, and a time mechanism adapted to release the detent at regular intervals, said parts being constructed and combined for joint operation, substantially as described, whereby the action of the pump is caused at regular intervals and a gradual rising movement of the pumping piston secured.

-5. In a pneumatic clock, the combination of a pump hell or piston, adriving-train, substantially as described, to operate the same, and a weighted lever to assist in depressing the bell, constructed and arranged in connection with a shifting fulcrum or bearing, substantially as described, whereby it is caused to exert an increasing effect to compensate for the increasing resistance to the action of the pump.

6. In combination with the pumping-bell and the vibratory operating frame or lever, the weighted lever K, pivoted to said frame and acting beneath a fixed bearing or fulcrum, substantially as described, whereby said lever is caused to exert a variable force upon the pump.

7. In a pneumatic clock, the pump-actuating device D, in combination with the weighted lever K, pivoted thereto, and the hearing or fulcrum L, adjustable horizontally in rela tion to said lever.

8. The pump-lever-D and the weighted lever K, in combination with the bearing or fulcrum L, adjustable vertically.

9. In a pneumatic clock, the combination of the vibratory lever D, having the pump connected therewith, the driving-train for said lever, the hooked dogs 0 and P, attached to the lever, the wheel Q, actuated by said hooks, the power-maintaining spring T, and the ti metrain connected with and driven by said spring, whereby the driving-train is caused to serve the twofold purpose of actuating the pump and of winding the spring.

10. In a pneumatic clock, a reciprocating pump hell or piston, a p0wer-maintaining or escapement actuating spring, and devices, substantially as shown, connecting the pump with said spring and arranged to exert a winding action upon the spring during the entire movement of the pump-piston in each direction.

11. The pumping bell or piston and the driving'train therefor, and the vibratory lever connected with said driving-train, and provided with two dogs or detcnts to limit its motion, in combination with the rock-shaft to hold and trip saiddogs, and the shaft-controlling devices connected with the escapement, substantially as described.

ITO

12. In combination with the vibratory arm I of the vibrating frame D, the pump 13 O, and A, the two dogs q and 1*, mounted thereon, the governing device M N, whereby the sudand the intermittent]y-operating rock-shaftp, den movement of the pumping-piston is pre substantially as shown, whereby the arm is vented, and thus the formation of a vacuum in I 5 5 locked fast at the end of each vibration. the air-pipes avoided.

'13. The dogs q and 1, applied substantially a I as and for the purpose described in oombina- AT FR tion with the rock-shaft p, the arms 3 and w, l J detent-arm t, tripping-pin u, and restoring- Witnesses: 10 wheel Q. J.- P. FRIEZ,

14. In a pneumatic clock, the combination J. A. 1\IURRAY.. 

